March 29, 2021
Earth Month events highlight SIU’s sustainability commitment
SIU Carbondale will celebrate Earth Month in April with a variety of special events that highlight the university’s long-standing commitment to sustainability. Due to the pandemic, student-related events will be the focus of many of the activities, but faculty and staff are invited to participate in several.
Visit Sustainability’s Earth Month webpage for additional details on many of the activities, which start at noon Friday, April 2, with a “First Friday Green Tour.” Meet at the Sustainability Hub on the Student Center first floor.
Other highlights during the month include:
- Salukis SPEAK “Environmental Justice: An introduction and discussion” at noon April 16, in the Student Services Building, Room 150/160. Luis Prado, a graduate student in geography and environmental resources; Charah McKinzie, program coordinator, Student Multicultural Resource Center, and Karen Schauwecker, Sustainability Office program coordinator, will facilitate the discussion. Attendance is limited by space, but pre-registration signup is available. SPEAK is an acronym for Solutions for Peace and Equality through Advocacy and Knowledge.
- The University Honors Program will present “A Fuller Saluki” on April 21 at a time to be announced. Artist and curator Benjamin Lowder, an SIU alumnus, will put the final touches on his installation celebrating the legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller at Bucky’s Haven, a geodesic dome near Campus Lake named after Fuller, who was also an SIU Carbondale professor. Gabe Bonansinga, an Honors Program student and junior majoring in chemistry, will share a multimedia meditation inspired by Fuller. The presentation will be virtual; email honors@siu.edu for the event link. Individuals and small groups may view the completed installation at Bucky’s Haven when it is finished.
- The announcement of this year’s Green Fund grant award winners (and student Environmental Ambassador winners) will be on Earth Day, April 22.
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to apply by April 30 via an online application to serve on the Sustainability Council, which helps guide sustainability programming on campus in addition to overseeing distribution of the Green Fund Grant program.
Students will participate in a plant-based cooking club, outdoor volunteer activities, workshops and classes, and much more.
The complete schedule of events and more information about SIU Sustainability and Earth Month activities is at sustainability.siu.edu/.